Withdrawals

08.30.10

Gen. Odierno Frets Over Iraq’s Future

MAYA ALLERUZZO

General Ray Odierno, the departing commander of U.S. troops in Iraq, tells The New York Times that he’s not sure if Iraq’s government will hold together. Deadlocked since March, Odierno predicts the government will need “four to six to eight weeks” in further negotiations. “The longer that takes, the more frustrated they might get with the process itself,” General Odierno says. “What I don’t want is for them to lose faith in the system, the democratic system, and that’s the long-term risk, do they lose faith in the process.” The U.S. had hoped to have a new government in place before withdrawing its final combat troops lat week.